Our Management Team

Social Value Consultant, Army

Sarah is one of the UK's leading experts on the use of social value in public sector procurement, with almost 30 years of experience in communications, politics, public policy making and community engagement. She is the host of the podcast "Let's Talk Social Value" and the founder and CEO of Samtaler, a fast-growing Social Value consultancy which helps large public sector suppliers deliver social, economic and environmental benefits through the delivery of their contracts. Clients include Oracle, Airbus, Thales, and Capita. Before starting Samtaler, she founded and ran McNeill and Stone, a social enterprise which helped community groups and grassroots campaigners to access the political system. 

Sarah served as External Adviser to David Cameron until her husband’s military service prompted her to leave Downing Street in 2012. Later, she held a senior position on the successful campaign to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom before advising Ruth Davidson during a number of high-profile election campaigns in Scotland. 

Sarah began her career by joining the Royal Signals at the age of 18 before completing a War Studies degree at Kings College London. Early career highlights included working for the specialist risk consultancy Control Risks Group, and the Imperial War Museum followed by a stint in Event Management. She has been married to a serving member of the British Army since 2007 and has worked since 2015 to actively advocate and improve the experiences of military families. She is the founder of the Military Coworking Network, which runs coworking spaces in Army, Navy and RAF bases. In 2018 she collected data on the lived experience of over 2,200 military spouses across the UK, supporting research by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

Early Years Specialist Lead for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Armed Forces Families & Safeguarding, Education Policy team

Based in Upavon in Wiltshire, Debra is an Early Childhood professional with over 25 years’ experience, She aims to bridge the knowledge gap between the needs of young Service children, and early childhood education and childcare (ECEC). She provides leadership and subject matter expertise on all ECEC matters, relating to Service children aged from birth to 5 years old, wherever they are in the world by working in close partnership with the Ministry of Defence chains of command, Local Authorities, and DfE, together with early childhood professionals and educators in the UK, and schools and early childhood settings.

She is also a self-funded, part-time Ph.D student at the University of Worcester, researching the impact of Military deployment on the parenting of young Service Children, focusing on the Royal Navy/Marines in England.

Through her work within the MOD and Ph.D study she learnt that family life in the armed forces can be really hard, especially for the spouse/partners of Serving personnel. The disruption of deployment and mobility, whilst trying to take care of children, the home and a job, can impact on their well-being and self-esteem.

Debra says: “As an early years professional I know how this impacts on their children and their well-being, emotional development and attachment security, potentially having a lifelong impact. Through MCN and hubs, spouse/partners can have space for themselves and their careers, improving their well-being and ultimately that of their children. I wanted to volunteer to support that and use my many years of experience to help.”

Defence Maritime Consultant, Royal Navy

Hannah Riekemann-Wood began her professional journey with a degree in drama, driven by a passion for storytelling and performance. However, her career soon took a different direction when she joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 2014 as a deck officer, drawn by the challenge and adventure of life at sea. During her service, she rose to the rank of Second Officer, playing a key role in a range of global operations, including counter-narcotics and anti-piracy patrols, mine clearance support on OP KIPION and humanitarian assistance efforts in the Caribbean in 2017 and 2020.

Her time at sea not only developed her leadership and operational expertise but also led to meeting her husband, a military officer. Together, they navigated life in the maritime services until Hannah moved ashore two years ago following the birth of their child.

Now working as a defence maritime consultant and part time maritime patrol officer in the local area, Hannah brings operational insight and strategic thinking to her role while continuing to champion issues close to her heart. She is a dedicated advocate for equality in the maritime and defence sectors, with a particular focus on improving policies, support and opportunities for mothers and parents to be able to continue their careers post parenthood. Her lived experience fuels her commitment to driving cultural change in the sector and supporting an inclusive environment for working parents and their partners.

As a Volunteer Advisory Board Member for the MCN, she looks forward to listening to members’ needs, advocating for military spouses and raising awareness of the crucial role the MCN plays in supporting the partners of military personnel- the often forgotten heroes keeping the wheels on the bus and striving to continue their careers.

Copywriter, Army

Cath began her career as a Primary School Teacher and an Additional Learning Needs Coordinator, before relocating with her family to the Czech Republic on a military move.

While adjusting to life overseas, she started ghostwriting for another military wife - a venture that soon grew into her own copywriting business.

It was during this time that Cath discovered the Military Coworking Network. Through webinars and virtual coworking sessions, she found not only professional support, but also a strong sense of community.

Now mentoring other military wives and partners who are starting or growing online businesses, Cath is passionate about helping others find the flexibility to work around family life and frequent military moves.

Drawing from her own experience, she deeply understands the value of the MCN: the solidarity, the safe and supportive environment, and the simple joy of working alongside others who "get it." Whether it’s access to a professional workspace or just a friendly chat with someone in the same boat, Cath knows how much this network can offer.

As a Volunteer Advisory Board Member, she’s excited to support the coworking hubs, listen to members’ needs, and help spread the word to other military spouses and partners who are looking for a place to thrive - not just work.

Museum Professional, Navy (Lives on RAF base)

After receiving a BA in Fashion History & Theory from Central Saint Martins in London, Rebecca graduated with an MA in Decorative Arts, Design History and Material Culture from Bard Graduate Centre in New York City.

She worked as a Collections Management Assistant at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute before moving to the UK to marry her partner, who serves in the military.

Since becoming a military spouse, she has moved around the UK multiple times and worked in a diverse range of job roles including museum assistant, tourist information officer, virtual executive assistant, copywriter and cost accounting clerk. She is currently working from home as a contributor on a fashion exhibition project in the USA.

A friend introduced Rebecca to MCN in 2019, and, though she has never lived near a hub, says she has hugely benefited from MCN's online resources, talks, and workshops.

Having previously worked for and served on an advisory board for an agency dedicated to helping military spouses find work as virtual assistants in the USA, she is keen to use her knowledge, experiences and lessons learned to cultivate and improve communities and career opportunities for military spouses in the UK.

Rebecca says: “I’m really excited to give back to MCN, which has helped me find an identity and community as I’ve navigated the ups and downs of life and work as a military spouse, which can otherwise feel quite isolating.”